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The '''Master of Tongues''' (恶魔音箱) was the chief interpreter to the imperial court of [[Daxia]]. The position was first created during the Shang dynasty and persisted through the Chen, Zhong and Qian periods. The Master of Tongues was a very important functionary and was one of the chief aides to the ministers in charge of foreign affairs. In [[Daxia]]n idiosyncrasy the speaking of foreign tongues was considered disgraceful and unbecoming of a proper [[Daxia]]n, therefore the task of acting as interpreters fell to foreigners. These were usually former slaves bought, received as [[Tributary system of Imperial Daxia|tribute]] or captured from enemy territories. Most of the early royal interpreters were of Muslim origin due to the Chen dynasty's frequent interaction with former Oduniyyad polities and a handful of Muslim families monopolized the position for decades. As [[Daxia]] turned its sights to the east, the prominence of Muslim interpreters came to an end, replaced most frequently by [[Sarpedon]]ians and [[Levantia]]ns in the position. The taboo on native Daxians learning other languages gradually faded away and foreigners were employed less frequently during the late imperial period. During the Qian dynasty many of those who rose to the position were also dwarfs or [[Zorfashazi|Jews]]. | The '''Master of Tongues''' (恶魔音箱) was the chief interpreter to the imperial court of [[Daxia]]. The position was first created during the Shang dynasty and persisted through the Chen, Zhong and Qian periods. The Master of Tongues was a very important functionary and was one of the chief aides to the ministers in charge of foreign affairs. In [[Daxia]]n idiosyncrasy the speaking of foreign tongues was considered disgraceful and unbecoming of a proper [[Daxia]]n, therefore the task of acting as interpreters fell to foreigners. These were usually former slaves bought, received as [[Tributary system of Imperial Daxia|tribute]] or captured from enemy territories. Most of the early royal interpreters were of Muslim origin due to the Chen dynasty's frequent interaction with former Oduniyyad polities and a handful of Muslim families monopolized the position for decades. As [[Daxia]] turned its sights to the east, the prominence of Muslim interpreters came to an end, replaced most frequently by [[Sarpedon]]ians and [[Levantia]]ns in the position. The taboo on native Daxians learning other languages gradually faded away and foreigners were employed less frequently during the late imperial period. During the Qian dynasty many of those who rose to the position were also dwarfs or [[Zorfashazi|Jews]]. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The existence of royal interpreters in the courts of [[Daxia]] is documented as far back as the Xie dynasty. The Shang dynasty employed a position called the Grand Speaker whose duties were near identical to the Master of Tongues, the key difference being the Shang did not employ foreigners for the position. The last emperor of the Shang dynasty, Cai Leng, issued the edict of prohibition on speaking foreign languages by his Daxian courtiers; he reportedly did this out of paranoia and so they wouldn't betray him to foreign powers. Concurrently he created the position of Master of Tongues and appointed a polyglot from [[Rusana]] named Attar al-Badri, al-Badri's foreign background and lack of local ties or contacts made him totally dependent on the Emperor's continued patronage and thus made him a safe choice. Attar al-Badri continued to serve | The existence of royal interpreters in the courts of [[Daxia]] is documented as far back as the Xie dynasty. The Shang dynasty employed a position called the Grand Speaker whose duties were near identical to the Master of Tongues, the key difference being the Shang did not employ foreigners for the position. The last emperor of the Shang dynasty, Cai Leng, issued the edict of prohibition on speaking foreign languages by his Daxian courtiers; he reportedly did this out of paranoia and so they wouldn't betray him to foreign powers. Concurrently he created the position of Master of Tongues and appointed a polyglot from [[Rusana]] named Attar al-Badri, al-Badri's foreign background and lack of local ties or contacts made him totally dependent on the Emperor's continued patronage and thus made him a safe choice. Attar al-Badri continued to serve the new Chen dynasty after Cai Leng's ultimate betrayal at the hands of his own guards. During his tenure of fifteen years, Attar al-Badri took the time to groom his eldest son to one day succeed him, starting a long period of dominance of the position by Muslims from al-Badri's and a few other Muslim families. | ||
==Privileges== | ==Privileges== | ||
==Famous Master of Tongues== | ==Famous Master of Tongues== | ||